Trypanocidal activity of the phenyl-substituted analogue of furamidine DB569 against Trypanosoma cruzi infection in vivo

Objectives: Aromatic diamidines have been successfully used to combat a wide range of parasites that cause important human infections. One such compound is furamidine (DB75) and we recently reported that one of its analogues, an N-phenyl analogue (DB569), exhibits higher trypanocidal dose and time-dependent effects against different forms of Trypanosoma cruzi as compared with DB75. Our present aim was to investigate the efficacy of DB569 in a T. cruzi mouse model. Methods: The trypanocidal activity of the compound was evaluated by clinical, parasitological, histopathological and biochemical investigations. Results: Treatment with DB569 significantly reduced cardiac parasitism, partially increased the survival rates of mice and lowered the levels of alanine aminotransferase and creatinine indicating a protective role against renal and hepatic lesions caused by the parasite infection. Conclusions: Altogether, the data support the potential effect of this class of compounds against T. cruzi and motivate the screening of new diamidines for efficacy against Chagas' disease.